Device and method for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes

ABSTRACT

The device for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes comprises a CMOS optical sensor; an analog processing unit connected to the optical sensor: an analog/digital conversion unit connected to the analog processing unit; a logic control unit connected to the CMOS optical sensor, the analog processing unit and the analog/digital conversion unit; and a data-processing unit connected to the logic control unit and the analog/digital conversion unit. The CMOS optical sensor and at least one of the analog processing, analog/digital conversion, logic control and data processing units are integrated in a single chip. The data processing unit processes the digital signals corresponding to the image acquired by the CMOS sensor and extracts the optically coded data.

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes.

[0002] Hereinafter, the term “optical code” indicates any graphic representation which has the function of storing coded data. A specific example of an optical code comprises linear or two-dimensional codes, wherein data is coded by appropriate combinations of elements with a predetermined shape, i.e. square, rectangles or hexagons, of dark colors (normally black), separated by light elements (spaces, normally white), such as bar codes, stacked codes (including PDF417), Maxicodes, Datamatrix, QR codes, or colour codes etc. More generally, the term “optical code” further comprises other graphic forms with a data-coding function, including uncoded printed characters (letters, numbers etc)and specific shapes (patterns) (such as stamps, logos, signatures etc).

[0003] In order to acquire optical data, optical sensors are required, converting the data coding image into electric signals, correlated to the brightness of the image dots, which can be automatically processed and decoded (through electronic processors).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] At present, optical sensors are manufactured using CCD (Charge Coupled Device) technology. However, these sensors have disadvantages caused by a not always satisfactory reading performance, complexity, cost and size of the entire reading device.

[0005] Furthermore, for the manufacture of optical sensors it has already been proposed to use the CMOS technology, presently employed only in integrated electronic circuits. Hitherto however, CCD technology has been preferred to CMOS technology, since its performance is better as to quantic efficiency, optical “fill factor” (i.e. the fraction of the useful area occupied by the individual detection element or pixel in order to acquire optical data), dark current leakage, reading noise and dynamics.

[0006] Recently, active pixel CMOS sensors (with an amplification section inside the pixel) have been developed, which have performance levels competitive with CCD sensors, but far greater functional capabilities. An image acquisition device can be divided into two parts, i.e. a (linear or matrix-type) optical sensor, supplying output electric signals correlated to the received light, and a unit for processing the electric signals. With the CCD technology used hitherto, whenever the processing unit has to collect data from the optical sensor, it must access all the pixels forming the optical sensor in a predetermined sequence. On the other hand, CMOS technology allows the processing unit to access any pixel directly, without having to comply with a specific order, and without the need to access all the existing pixels. In addition, CMOS sensors are fully compatible with logic circuits produced using CMOS technology itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The object of the invention is thus to provide a device and a method for acquiring optical data, exploiting the intrinsic advantages of CMOS technology, compared with CCD technology.

[0008] According to the present invention, a device is provided for the acquisition and automatic processing of data from optical codes, characterised, in combination, by:

[0009] a CMOS optical sensor;

[0010] an analog processing unit connected to said CMOS optical sensor;

[0011] an analog/digital conversion unit connected to said analog processing unit; and

[0012] a data-processing unit, connected to said analog/digital conversion unit.

[0013] The CMOS sensor can be of linear or matrix type; the device is also provided with a display unit and a keyboard and/or a mouse. An interface permits connection to radio, telephone, GSM or satellite systems.

[0014] The CMOS sensor and at least one of the analog and digital image processing units, are preferably integrated in a single chip; consequently the device is cheap, fast and less sensitive to noise.

[0015] The device initially advantageously acquires low-resolution images; in the low-resolution images, it looks for interest regions; then it acquires high-resolution images in the interest regions and decodes data in the high-resolution images.

[0016] According to the invention, a method is also provided for automatically acquiring data obtained from optical codes, comprising the steps of generating an analog electric signal correlated to the brightness of an image through a CMOS optical sensor; processing said analog electric signal in an analog manner; converting said analog electric signal into a digital signal; and processing said digital signal to extract coded optical data.

[0017] In addition, the invention relates to a device for automatic acquisition of data obtained from optical codes, characterised, in combination, by:

[0018] a CMOS optical sensor;

[0019] an analog processing unit connected to said CMOS optical sensor; and

[0020] an analog/digital conversion unit connected to said analog processing unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Further characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the description of some preferred embodiments, provided purely by way of no-limiting example and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

[0022]FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a device for the acquisition and automatic processing of data according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0023]FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0024]FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the device according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0025]FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0026]FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

[0027]FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention;

[0028]FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of the device according to a seventh embodiment of the invention;

[0029]FIG. 8 shows a more detailed block diagram of the device of FIG. 1, according to a first variant;

[0030]FIG. 9 shows a more detailed block diagram of the device of FIG. 1, according to a second variant;

[0031]FIG. 10 shows a more detailed block diagram of the device of FIG. 1, according to a third variant;

[0032]FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of a method for the acquisition and automatic processing of data according to the invention;

[0033] FIGS 12 a and 12 b show two portions of a sensor used in the present device;

[0034]FIGS. 13a, 13 b and 13 c show optical codes superimposed on a grid representing a first shape of the pixels of the image acquisition system;

[0035]FIGS. 14a, 14 b and 14 c show optical codes superimposed on a grid representing a second shape of the pixels of the image acquisition system; and

[0036]FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart of a variant of the method for automatic data acquisition according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] In FIG. 1, a device 1 for acquisition and automatic processing of data comprises an image detector 2 and a processing unit 3. In turn, the image detector 2 comprises, in cascade with one another, a CMOS sensor 5, an analog processing unit 6 and an AID converter 7.

[0038] In detail, the CMOS sensor 5, of known type, comprises a linear or matrix-type array of sensing elements produced using CMOS technology and intended to provide each an image element (pixel). Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity of description, the term pixel indicates both the image elements taken from each sensing element and the sensing elements themselves. The CMOS sensor 5 then supplies at the output an analog signal correlated to the quantity of light incident on the sensing elements themselves.

[0039] The analog processing unit 6, receiving the output signal from CMOS sensor 5 on a line 8, has the function of adapting the output signal from CMOS sensor 5 and allowing subsequent digital conversion of the signal; in particular, it serves the purpose of making the signal compatible with the voltage values required by the A/D converter 7, through automatic gain control; eliminating the (thermal and electromagnetic) noise generated inside CMOS sensor 5, or picked up from the exterior; and modifying the signal to compensate blurring or excessive image definition.

[0040] A/D converter 7, connected to the output of the analog processing unit 6 via a line 9, transforms the analog signal supplied by the analog processing unit 6 into a succession of digital pulses, by sampling the analog signal at suitable moments and coding the data in digital form. In particular, in the simplest case, A/D converter 7 can also use a single bit (and supply only a white/black data), but more generally it is a N bit converter (e.g. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16).

[0041] A digital logic control unit 10 is connected to CMOS sensor 5, to analog processing unit 6 and to A/D converter 7, through respective lines 11-13, and supplies them with control signals necessary for their operation, for example activation and synchronism signals. Logic control unit 10 comprises hardware and software components for managing blocks 5-7 and can also carry, out very complex tasks.

[0042] The output 7 a of A/D converter 7 is connected to a microprocessor 15, belonging to the processing unit 3 and connected to an own ROM memory 16 for program storing, and to an own RAM memory 17 for storing data, digital image and program information during execution. Microprocessor 15 is connected to logic control unit 10 via a line 18 and supplies control signals for acquiring the signals associated with all the pixels (frame), or acquiring the signals associated only with some specific pixels, as described hereinafter in greater detail with reference to FIG. 11. Depending on the application, microprocessor 15 can also control pixel acquisition in non-consecutive order. In addition, it processes the digital image data, extracts the coded data from the acquired image and optionally processes this data according to known algorithms.

[0043] In the device 1, CMOS sensor 5 and at least one of the elements of the image detector 2 and/or the processing unit 3, are integrated in a single chip. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, the entire device 1, including the image detector 2 and the processing unit 3, is integrated in a single chip 20.

[0044] The device 1 is thus very compact and has lower production costs and a high image processing speed, due to the closeness of the components and lack of external connections.

[0045]FIG. 2 shows a device 1 including, in addition to the blocks shown in FIG. 1, a battery supply unit 80, connected to the image detector 2 and to the processing unit 3, for supplying power to device 1, and two user interfaces, specifically an input interface 21 and an output interface 22, also supplied by the battery supply unit 80, in a manner not shown. The input interface 21 is connected to an input device 81, for example a keyboard or a mouse, for inputting data and commands; the output interface 22 is connected to an output device 82, typically a display unit, to display a text and/or images. The input interface 21 and output interface 22 are connected to the microprocessor 15 via a data and control bus 23.

[0046] The device 1 of FIG. 2 is also provided with a data transfer and control interface 35, for remote transmission and receipt to/from other devices or to/from a central unit (not shown); typically this interface permits dispatch of data extracted from the image acquired by microprocessor 15.

[0047] In this case also, the CMOS sensor 5 can be of the linear or matrix type.

[0048]FIG. 3 shows an embodiment wherein, instead of being concentrated in an appropriate unit (logic control unit 10), the logic control unit is distributed within blocks forming CMOS sensor 5, analog processing unit 6 and A/D converter 7. The logic control unit 10 is thus eliminated and microprocessor 15 is interfaced directly with blocks 5, 6 and 7.

[0049] According to a variant, also shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3, the logic control unit is provided inside the microprocessor 15. Therefore, also here, microprocessor 15 is interfaced directly with blocks 5, 6 and 7. This variant is advantageous when it is necessary to produce a large number of devices 1 according to the invention; in fact, in this case, it is possible to produce a custom microprocessor component having hardware resources suitable for direct connection to the image detector 2.

[0050]FIG. 4 shows a device 1 a formed only by the image detector 2, wherein output 7 a of A/D converter 7 is connected to a data transfer and control interface 35. Data transfer and control interface 35 is also connected to the control unit 10 via a line 36 and to a personal computer (not shown) via a line 37. The data transfer and control interface 35 can for example be a USB, IEEE 1394 or SCSI interface; as an alternative a RAM interface can be provided, which allows the personal computer to collect directly the digital data supplied by the A/D conversion unit 7, or a DMAC interface. In addition, the data transfer and control interface 35 can also be a radio interface, a telephone interface, or a GSM or satellite interface.

[0051] Image detector 2 and data transfer and control interface 35 are advantageously integrated in a single chip 38. In the illustrated example, device 1 a of FIG. 4 is supplied directly by the personal computer, via a supply interface 39 connected to the personal computer (not shown) and supplying the necessary voltage to all blocks of FIG. 4. As an alternative, device 1 a can be supplied via data transfer and control interface 35, or directly via the battery interface and thus be provided with a supply unit block similar to block 80 of FIG. 2 (in a manner not shown).

[0052] The device 1 a of FIG. 4 can also be provided with input and output interfaces, similarly to interfaces 81 and 82 of FIG. 2.

[0053] Data transfer and control interface 35 transfers the images acquired to the personal computer and receives the commands from the latter, so as to allow image processing (for example in the manner described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIG. 7) by the personal computer. This solution is advantageous when there is already a personal computer available for further processing (for example statistics, computation etc), which can conveniently also be required to carry out the task of image processing, thus simplifying and reducing dimensions and cost of the device 1 a simply to those of image detector 2 and optionally transfer interface 35.

[0054]FIG. 5 shows a device 1 which has the same elements as the device of FIG. 1 (and which are therefore indicated with the same reference numbers) and also an additional memory 25 of volatile type (RAM) connected between A/D converter 7 and microprocessor 15. In detail, the additional memory 25 is connected to output 7 a of A/D converter 7 via a line 26, to microprocessor 15 via a data and address bus 27 and to logic control unit 10 via a line 28.

[0055] The additional memory 25 is part of the image detector 2 and stores the digital image formed by a plurality of dots, the digital value whereof is supplied by A/D converter 7. Thereby, a dedicated component outside image detector 2 is not necessary for image storing.

[0056] In the device 1 of FIG. 5, microprocessor 15 can access additional memory 25 directly via data bus 27, when it is necessary to access the image, and it can access its own ROM memory 16 and RAM memory 17, when executing the program or acceding to its own private data other than the image.

[0057] In addition, device 1 can be fully integrated (in a manner not shown) in a single-chip with data and control transfer interface 35, or it can be only partially integrated, as previously described.

[0058]FIG. 6 shows a device 1 having the same elements as the device of FIG. 1 and in addition a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 30, connected between A/D converter 7 and microprocessor 15. In detail, DMA controller 30 is connected to output 7 a of A/D converter 7 via a line 31, to microprocessor 15 via a control line 32, to the same microprocessor 15, to ROM memory 16 and RAM memory 17 via a data bus 33 and to logic control unit 10 via a line 34.

[0059] DMA controller 30 is part of the image detector 2 and has the aim of quickly furnishing available digital image to microprocessor 15, by transferring it directly to RAM memory 17. In particular, when the image must be transferred to RAM memory 17, the DMA controller 30 requests the microprocessor 15 for control of the data bus 33, via the control line 32 and when it obtains this control, it generates the addresses and the control signals necessary to store the output image of A/D converter 7 directly in RAM memory 17. when the transfer has been carried out, control of data bus 33 is returned to the microprocessor 15, which processes the image which has just been loaded.

[0060] The device 1 of FIG. 6 can also be integrated fully in a single chip, or in only part of it.

[0061]FIG. 7 shows a device 1, having the same elements as the device of FIG. 1 and also an additional RAM memory 25 a, similar to that of FIG. 5, and a DMA controller 30 a, similar to that of FIG. 6. DMA controller 30 a is connected in the same manner as that previously described with reference to FIG. 6 and the additional memory 25 a is connected at its output directly to the data bus 33.

[0062] The device 1 of FIG. 7 has the advantages of both the architecture of FIG. 5 and the architecture of FIG. 6. In fact, in,this case, it is possible to create quickly a copy of the image contained in additional memory 25 a into RAM memory 17 and to acquire a second image, thus making it possible to carry out comparisons between two successive images. This is very useful in the case of processing moving images and in general whenever algorithms are used to process images based on the comparison of two successive images.

[0063]FIG. 8 shows the more detailed architecture of a device 1, which has the general diagram shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 8, CMOS sensor 5 is of linear type; analog processing unit 6 comprises a channel filter and an automatic gain control unit; and A/D converter 7 is of the 1-bit type (digitiser). In detail, the analog processing unit 6 has the task of selecting the useful band of the acquired signal, by filtering noise superimposed on the useful signal and automatically controlling the amplitude of the output signal supplied to A/D converter 7, thus adapting the gain to various operative conditions of contrast and intensity of the image acquired. Since A/D converter 7 operates with 1 bit, conversion is particularly simple and quick. Image detector 2 is integrated in a single chip and is connected to the external processing unit 3 formed by a microcontroller, including the microprocessor 15 and the corresponding ROM memory 16 and RAM memory 17.

[0064]FIG. 9 shows the more detailed architecture of another device 1, which has the general diagram shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 9, CMOS sensor 5 is of matrix type; analog processing unit 6 comprises an analog circuit for signal amplification and A/D converter 7 is of 8-bit type, so that it supplies at output 7 a a digital signal encoding each pixel according to one of 256 levels of grey. Image detector 2 is integrated in a single chip; microprocessor 15 is external, of RISC or CISC type, and is provided with a non-volatile memory 16 (consisting in this case of an external EPROM) and of a RAM memory 17.

[0065] The 8-bit A/D conversion limits the image transfer and processing complexity and speeds up the image processing operations for acquiring data contained in the image.

[0066] According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a single chip integrates a CMOS sensor 5 of linear type; an analog processing unit 6; an 8-bit A/D converter 7; a microprocessor 15 and a RAM memory 17 for program data. In this solution, only ROM memory 16 is external.

[0067] In the device of FIG. 10, if the brightness level is known a priori (as in the case of contact readers), this is sufficient and thus the level of the signal supplied by CMOS sensor 5 is sufficient, analog processing unit 6 is omitted.

[0068] The 8-bit converter ensures that the signal is converted with higher resolution than in the case of FIG. 8. This solution thus makes it possible to simplify as far as possible, or even to eliminate analog processing of the signal and to implement algorithms for processing the images in more complex digital formats. Through these algorithms it is possible in particular to improve the reading performance, in case of codes with very low contrast, damaged codes etc.

[0069] To improve the reading speed, the device 1 functions as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11. In particular, initially the image detector 2 acquires the entire image with low resolution (block 40); then the microprocessor 15 analyses the just detected image, to locate, within the image, interest regions which may contain data to be acquired, block 41; subsequently, the image detector 2, at the command of microprocessor 15, detects the image of only the interest regions with higher resolution than previously, block 42; finally, the microprocessor 15 processes the more detailed images, in order to extract the data they contain, block 43.

[0070] Double acquisition of the above-described type can be obtained through a CMOS sensor 5, allowing direct access to the pixels and/or having variable shape pixels, as described hereinafter. In addition, data management is based on the following sequence of steps: detecting optical data (also known as image acquisition) via CMOS sensor 5; identifying interest areas (also known as localization), carried out by the microprocessor 15, program-controlled; and interpreting the data (also known as decoding), also carried out by microprocessor 15 through a software.

[0071] In practice, the present device 1 works in every processing step (localization or decoding), with detail levels (image resolution) fitted to the purpose, without making the process excessively onerous. In particular, during localization, lower and rougher resolution is used, to reduce the dimensions of the image to be processed, for determining the position of the data in the image as a whole. Subsequently, only the interest regions, which are supposed to contain data to be interpreted, are acquired by CMOS sensor 5 at a higher resolution; thereby, the decoding algorithms can be applied only to reduced portions of image and the times necessary both for localization and decoding as a whole can be reduced.

[0072] In particular, an acquisition method is now described, in which there is direct access to the pixels of the image detector 2, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11. It is assumed that a CMOS sensor 5 is used, wherein all pixels are the same and may be accessed directly by selecting lines and columns which need not be adjacent, or by selecting rectangular windows of adjacent pixels, wherein the term “window” means a rectangular portion of the image with maximum resolution.

[0073] In this hypothesis, low-resolution acquisition 40 is carried out by a regular subsampling of the image with maximum resolution (thus obtaining for example a first image formed from one line out of every two and one column out of every two, of the image with maximum resolution).

[0074] The step of image analysis 41 is carried out by using an algorithm for identifying interest regions on the first image (with reduced dimensions) obtained in step 40. This algorithm can for example search for the regions with greatest contrast and ignore the regions with low contrast, since the conventional optical codes use the alternation of light and dark regions to encode data. Thereby, a list of interest regions is obtained.

[0075] The step of high-resolution acquisition 42 then comprises acquiring, for each interest region, only the window containing the interest region, at the maximum resolution. The decoding step 43 then applies the decoding algorithm to each portion of thus obtained image.

[0076] A different acquisition method is now described, using variable shape pixels. In particular, it is assumed that a CMOS sensor 5 is used, wherein all pixels are the same and adjacent pixels can be grouped together by hardware so as to be physically connected to one another through controllable switches in order to obtain macropixels with larger dimensions. In this respect, see FIGS. 12a and 12 b relative to a portion 50 of a CMOS sensor 5, formed from a plurality of elementary sensors 51, each of which supplies a corresponding pixel; in FIG. 12a, the elementary sensors 51 are distinct, whereas in FIG. 12b the elementary sensors 51 are grouped together such as to provide macropixels 52, formed by 2×2 pixels. The macropixels 52 are then used and managed as single units, associated with a brightness value correlated to the average of the brightness of the elementary pixels. Thereby, images are generated having lower resolution than the maximum, that is when each individual elementary pixel 51 is independently used.

[0077] According to the variable-shape pixel method and with reference to FIG. 11, the low-resolution acquisition step 40 comprises a first step, wherein adjacent pixels are grouped together by hardware, on the basis of control signals generated by control unit 10, in turn controlled by the microprocessor 15, and a second step of acquiring a low-resolution image, through the thus obtained macropixels. Then follow: analysis of image 41; high-resolution acquisition 42 (wherein the values of the individual pixels are acquired only in the windows where interest regions have been localized) and decoding 43, similarly to the above-described procedure with reference to the direct-access method.

[0078] According to another aspect of the present invention, pixels with a variable height are used. This approach is particularly advantageous to improve the reading capability in case of linear bar codes and stacked codes (i.e obtained by superimposing a series of bar codes with a very low height). Specifically, this method is based either on the possibility of producing macropixels with a rectangular shape and a different number of elementary pixels, or on the possibility of configuring height and active area of the pixel of the CMOS sensors in the manner described hereinafter.

[0079] Specifically, for reading linear codes (conventional bar codes), use of sensors with rectangular pixels having vertical dimensions much greater than horizontal dimensions (considering as horizontal the direction of the reading line), makes it possible to obtain a relatively broad sensitive detection area with respect to the horizontal dimension; thereby giving greater sensitivity and a better signal to noise ratio, as is immediately apparent by comparing FIGS. 13a and 14 a, relative to the reading of a single bar code, respectively with pixels 55 with a high height to width ratio (which in the example illustrated is far greater than 10) and with pixels 56 with a height to width ratio which is close to 1.

[0080] On the other hand, sensors with a reduced pixel height are advantageous in reading optical codes having elements not in line with the pixels (FIGS. 13b and 14 b), or in reading stacked codes (FIGS. 13c and 14 c).

[0081] In particular, the configurability of the pixel shape in CMOS sensors can be obtained by reducing appropriately the sensing area of each pixel. In fact, as is known, each CMOS pixel is formed by a photoelement generating at the output an electric current correlated to the received light quantity and used to charge a storage capacitor. The photoelement has superimposed a gate element, whose biasing makes it possible to isolate a portion of the facing sensing area, thus activating only part of the photoelement sensing area. Therefore, with a sensing area of rectangular shape, such as that shown in FIGS. 13a-13 c (for example of 200×14 μm) and by appropriately biasing the gate electrode of each pixel, it is possible to modify the shape of each pixel; for example, it is possible to activate only one end of each sensing area, thus obtaining pixels with a substantially square shape, as shown in FIGS. 14a-14 c, or portions with increasing height, until the maximum dimensions of FIGS. 13a-13 b.

[0082] The above-described possibility of varying the shape of the pixels allows a same detector device to have two (or more) different operative configurations and thus to employ a single data acquisition device for different codes or in a priori unknown reading conditions (for example with unknown inclination of a bar code).

[0083] In this case, an algorithm may be implemented, initially attempting reading with maximum height and reducing the height in case of unsuccessful reading. Height reduction can be gradual, if CMOS sensor 5 allows a discrete regulation of the pixel height to obtain a plurality of different heights.

[0084] In this case, the data acquisition device with variable shape pixels can operate according to FIG. 15. In detail, the maximum pixel height is initially set (block 60); the image (or at least a reduced, trial portion of it) is then acquired (block 61); the acquired image is processed to extract coded data, for example for localizing interest regions, or is pre-processed to evaluate whether the image is sufficient to extract data, block 62; it is verified whether reading has been successful, block 63; if so, (YES output from block 63), processing is continued (completion of image processing or use of the extracted data, block 64); if not (NO output from block 63), it is verified whether the pixels are already at minimum height (block 67). If so (YES output from block 67), an error signal is generated (block 68, to indicate that reading is impossible); if not (NO output from block 67), the pixel height is reduced, block 69, and the image is acquired another time, returning to block 61.

[0085] The advantages of the described device and method are as follows. Firstly, they allow integration in a single chip of both the sensor and at least part of the VLSI logic circuits, thus reducing the costs for the components and packaging of the entire device; in addition, they exploit the inherent advantages of CMOS technology for reading optical coded data; in particular, they allow acquisition of selective image subsets, on the basis of the image processing stage, thus simplifying and speeding up data processing.

[0086] The present device can be produced according to one of the various above-described architectures, according to the specific application requirements and specific characteristics.

[0087] The possibility of integrating significant portions of the device in a single chip permits firstly reduction of the device dimensions (which is particularly advantageous in case of manual optical readers, physically supported by an operator) and secondly, reduction of the processing times and interferences caused by connections, wires etc.

[0088] Finally, it is apparent that many modifications and variants can be made to the device and the method described and illustrated here, all of which come within the context of the invention, as defined in the attached claims. In particular, the various blocks described with reference to specific architectures can also be used in different architectures, in accordance with very varied combinations, on the basis of the specific requirements. 

1. A device (1) for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes, characterised, in combination, by: a CMOS optical sensor (5); an analog processing unit (6) connected to said CMOS optical sensor (5); an analog/digital conversion unit (7) connected to said analog processing unit (6); and a data-processing unit (3), connected to said analog/digital conversion unit (7).
 2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said CMOS sensor (5) is of linear type.
 3. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said CMOS sensor (5) is of matrix type.
 4. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said analog processing unit (6) comprises filtering means and automatic gain control means.
 5. A device according to claim 1, characterised by a battery supply unit (80).
 6. A device according to claim 1, characterized by user interface means (21, 22, 81, 82).
 7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that said user interface means (21, 22, 81, 82) comprise a display unit (82).
 8. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that said user interface means (21, 22, 81, 82) comprise a keyboard and/or a mouse.
 9. A device according to claim 1, characterised by a logic control unit (10) connected to said CMOS optical sensor (5), said analog/digital conversion unit (7) and said data processing unit (3).
 10. A device according to claim 9, characterised in that said logic control unit (10) and said data processing unit (3) are integrated in a microprocessor (15).
 11. A device according to claim 9, characterised in that said logic control unit (10) is integrated distributedly in said CMOS sensor (5), said analog processing unit (6) and said analog/digital conversion unit (7).
 12. A device according to claim 1, characterised by a transfer interface unit (35) for data and command transmission and reception.
 13. A device according to claim 12, characterised in that said transfer interface unit (35) is an input/output interface for remote connection to external devices or to an external central unit.
 14. A device according to claim 12, characterised in that said transfer interface unit (35) is an input/output interface for remote connection via radio.
 15. A device according to claim 12, characterised in that said transfer interface unit (35) is an input/output interface for remote connection via telephone.
 16. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said data processing unit (3) comprises a microprocessor (15), a program memory unit (16) and an image memory unit (17).
 17. A device according to claim 16, characterised by a direct memory access controller (30, 30 a), interposed between said analog/digital conversion unit (7) and said image memory unit (17).
 18. A device according to claim 1, characterised by a volatile memory (25, 25 a) interposed between said analog/digital conversion unit (7) and said data processing unit (3).
 19. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said CMOS optical sensor (5) and at least one element selected among said analog processing unit (6), said analog/digital conversion unit (7), said logic control unit (10), said data processing unit (3), said user interface means (21, 22, 81, 82), said transfer interface unit (35), said direct memory access controller (30, 30 a) and said volatile memory element (25, 25 a) are integrated in a single chip (20).
 20. A device according to claim 1, characterised by means (40) for acquiring low-resolution images; means (41) for searching interest regions in said low-resolution images; means (42) for acquiring high-resolution images for said interest regions and means (43) for decoding data in said high-resolution images.
 21. A device according to claim 20, characterised in that said CMOS sensor (5) comprises a plurality of CMOS sensing elements and in that said low-resolution image acquisition means (40) comprise means for selectively interrogating only some of said CMOS sensing elements of said plurality of CMOS sensing elements (51).
 22. A device according to claim 20, characterised in that said CMOS sensor comprises a plurality of CMOS sensing elements (51) and in that said low-resolution image acquisition means (50) comprise means grouping adjacent groups of said CMOS sensing elements together into macropixels (52) and means (6) acquiring electric signals generated by each said macropixel.
 23. A device according to claim 20, characterised in that said CMOS sensor (5) comprises a plurality of CMOS sensing elements (51) and in that said low-resolution image acquisition means (40) comprise means modifying the active area of said CMOS sensing elements and means (6) acquiring electric signals supplied by said CMOS sensing elements with a modified active area.
 24. A method for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes, comprising the steps of generating an analog electric signal correlated to the brightness of an, image through a CMOS optical sensor (5); processing said analog electric signal in an analog manner; converting said analog electric signal into a digital signal; and processing said digital signal in order to extract coded optical data.
 25. A method according to claim 24, characterised by the steps of: acquiring (40) low-resolution images; searching (41) interest regions in said low-resolution images; acquiring (42) high-resolution images for. said interest regions; and decoding (43) data in said high-resolution images.
 26. A method according to claim 25, characterised in that said CMOS sensor (5) comprises a plurality of CMOS sensing elements and in that said step of acquiring low-resolution images (40) comprises the step of selectively interrogating
 33. A device according to claim 30, characterised in that said transfer interface unit (35) is of remote type.
 34. A device according to claim 29, characterised by a battery supply unit (80)
 35. A device according to claim 29, characterised by a supply interface (39) connectable to a personal computer.
 36. A device according to claim 29, characterised in that said CMOS sensor (5) is of linear type.
 37. A device according to claim 29, characterised in that said CMOS sensor (5) is of matrix type.
 38. A device according to claim 29, characterised by user interface means (21, 22, 81, 82).
 39. A method for automatically acquiring data obtained from optical codes, comprising the steps of generating an analog electric signal correlated to the brightness of an image through a CMOS optical sensor (5); analog processing said analog electric signal; and converting said analog electric signal into a digital signal.
 40. A method according to claim 39, characterised by sending said digital signal to an interface. 